Toy airplane launcher

ABSTRACT

In the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed two toy airplanes are employed, or a single airplane if desired, for discharge into the air, and each plane is formed with a tubing at the base of the fuselage thereof for reception of one of two spring-engaged rods carried by a launcher member. When either of the two planes is positioned on the launcher and moved rearwardly against the tension of the appropriate spring, the latter is compressed and held tensioned, by a trigger device, and the rod on which the spring is held holds the plane for projection into the air when the trigger is actuated. Two planes may be projected together or to follow one after the latter. Each of the two planes may be caused to fly in a direction different from the second plane, because the two planes can be manually turned in different wing angles of the wings relatively to each other, and if the wings are placed in line the planes will fly in straight flight.

Turoft et a1.

1 Sept. 2, 11975 TOY AIRPLANE LAUNCHER [76] Inventors: Allan Turofl, 70 Forsyth St., New

York, NY. 10002; Harold E. Bol'tz, 321 Hutchinson Rd., Englewood, NJ. 07631 22 Filed: May 3, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 466,531

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-W. Lee Helms [5 7] ABSTRACT In the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed two toy airplanes are employed, or a single airplane if desired, for discharge into the air, and each plane is formed with a tubing at the base of the fuselage thereof for reception of one of two spring-engaged rods carried by alauncher member. When either of the two planes is positioned on the launcher and moved rearwardly against the tension of the appropriate spring, the latter is compressed and held tensioned, by a trigger device, and the rod on which the spring is held holds the plane for projection into the air when the trigger is actuated. Two planes may be projected together or to follow one after the latter. Each of the two planes may be caused to fly in a direction different from the second plane, because the two planes can be manually turned in different Wing angles of the wings relatively to each other, and if the wings are placed in line the planes will fly in straight flight.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENT SEP ems sum 1 0F 2 PATENTEBSEP zl'is v 3,902,2'f'1 amnes a TOY AIRPLANE LAUNCHER The invention will be described in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking down on two toy planes held by the launcher and ready to be propelled in straight lines.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the launcher with one plane in position for release and flight.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 3-3, FIG. 1, showing by dotted lines the position of one of the two planes before it, with its tubing member, is manually moved back on a launcher rod, against the tension of the spring on the rod to the full line posi' tion, ready for launching.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 3, it will be seen that each toy plane carries below its fuselage an elongated tubing member. This member in the embodiment shown, is composed of three elements, being a forward element, preferably of plastic, 1, a central member which may be of strong cellulosic material, 2, and an end cap 3 which may be made of a plastic or metal, as desired. The said elongated tubing member may be secured to the bottom of the plane fuselage, as in a longitudinal groove therein, in any desired manner, as by adhesive and/or pins projected from the tube into sockets formed in the fuselage material. In the embodiment illustrated the airplane structure is shown as molded in one piece, as of plastic expanded polystyrene, for example, the fuselage element being indicated at 4 and the wings at 5; a suitable material is expanded polystyrene or the like.

The launcher shown in the drawings comprises a frame 6 with a depending handle 7, FIG. 3, the top of the frame having means for receiving and providing direction with regard to the rod 8, said means including the two sleeves 9. As shown in FIG. 1 the frame is formed in V-shape. and preferably it is a molded member of strong plastic. The rod 8 receives a coiled spring 10 which at its rear meets a suitable abutment, the latter, in the present embodiment, being the rear end of a trigger member 11, FIG. 3, carried by frame 6. The trigger member is shown with a finger element and may be made from a strong springy plastic integrally carried by the frame.

By the construction thus described the two planes may be propelled singly or at the same time, and each in a straight line projection or in mutually different directions.

When it is desired to propel the planes in different directions it is merely performed by manually turning one or both on the holding rod 8 so that the wing of one plane lies in angular relationship different from that of the other plane. And as to height direction of the plane or planes projection the operator tilts the handle of the frame upwardly, as desired.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the elements and arrangement thereof shown in the embodiment of the drawings, without de parture from the spirit of the accompanying claims. For example a separate trigger device for each of the two toy airplanes may be used, but in the embodiment shown in the drawings the irigger device of FIG. 2, indicated at I2, comprises a rockable bar-like member connected to and an element of the frame 6, the trigger being carried centrally thereof as indicated at 11, and the hooks 11 being at the ends of said bar-like member of the frame. When the frame as a whole is molded of hard but flexible plastic, the barlike element thereof may be molded integrally as a part, and may flex on spaced connecting areas, as indicated at 14, FIG. 2, but generally this is unnecessary.

Having described our Invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a toy airplane launcher, a frame member, a plurality of rods carried by the frame member and each adapted to receive a tubular element of a toy airplane which has a fuselage and wings projected outwardly therefrom, a compressable spring supported by each rod, each tubular element having a trigger-engageable member at one end thereof, a trigger means carried by the frame for manual operation in release movement and adapted to engage the toy airplane tubular elements at their trigger-engageable members when the springs are compressed by engagement of said tubular elements, whereby the toy airplanes are held under propelling spring pressure to be released by action on the trigger means, and said springs act to hold said toy airplanes by frictional pressure thereon, in mutually different positions on said rods as to positions of their wings and enabling said toy airplanes to have flight in mutually different paths simultaneously, the frame having clearance for turning adjustment of the toy airplanes.

2. A toy airplane launcher, in combination with a toy airplane structure, constructed in accordance with claim claim 1, in which the frame is formed V-shaped with supports lateral margins for two toy airplanes, each having two rods for receiving tubular elements of two toy airplanes, together with the propelling elements of claim I in duplicate.

3. A toy airplane launcher constructed in accordance with claim 1 in which the frame has two rod supporting means for two airplanes adapted for manual rotational adjustment of one plane relatively to the second plane, whereby upon release the spring pressure may propel the two planes simultaneously in different directions.

4. A toy airplane launcher constructed in accordance with claim 1 in which the airplane supporting means for adjusting one, or both, toy airplanes on the frame, comprises sleeve means on the frame for permitting relative angular adjustment of the toy airplanes on the frame.

5. A toy airplane launcher in combination with a plurality of toy airplane structures, in accordance with claim I, in which the elements of the frame include a rockable element having a plurality of trigger hooks each for emgaging one of the plurality of trigger engageable members carried by the toy airplanes and intermediate said hooks carrying a manually operable trigger finger. 

1. In a toy airplane launcher, a frame member, a plurality of rods carried by the frame member and each adapted to receive a tubular element of a toy airplane which has a fuselage and wings projected outwardly therefrom, a compressable spring supported by each rod, each tubular element having a trigger-engageable member at one end thereof, a trigger means carried by the frame for manual operation in release movement and adapted to engage the toy airplane tubular elements at their trigger-engageable members when the springs are compressed by engagement of said tubular elements, whereby the toy airplanes are held under propelling spring pressure to be released by action on the trigger means, and said springs act to hold said toy airplanes by frictional pressure thereon, in mutually different positions on said rods as to positions of their wings and enabling said toy airplanes to have flight in mutually different paths simultaneously, the frame having clearance for turning adjustment of the toy airplanes.
 2. A toy airplane launcher, in combination with a toy airplane structure, constructed in accordance with claim claim 1, in which the frame is formed V-shaped with supports lateral margins for two toy airplanes, each having two rods for receiving tubular elements of two toy airplanes, together with the propelling elements of claim 1 in duplicate.
 3. A toy airplane launcher constructed in accordance with claim 1 in which the frame has two rod supporting means for two airplanes adapted for manual rotational adjustment of one plane relatively to the second plane, whereby upon release the spring pressure may propel the two planes simultaneously in different directions.
 4. A toy airplane launcher constructed in accordance with claim 1 in which the airplane supporting means for adjusting one, or both, toy airplanes on the frame, comprises sleeve means on the frame for permitting relative angular adjustment of the toy airplanes on the frame.
 5. A toy airplane launcher in combination with a plurality of toy airplane structures, in accordance with claim 1, in which the elements of the frame include a rockable element having a plurality of trigger hooks each for emgaging one of the plurality of trigger engageable members carried by the toy airplanes and intermediate said hooks carrying a manually operable trigger finger. 